Your Source for Guidance

Insights and Reflections from Caroline Goldsmith in Dublin, Ireland

This page features Caroline Goldsmith’s professional insights into mental health, drawn from her work with children, adults, and families across Ireland. Her writing touches on autism assessments, therapeutic support, child development, trauma care, ADHD assessments, and emotional wellbeing.
You can explore more in the blog section.

Providing Psychological Support Across Waterford & Dublin Southside

Caroline Goldsmith works as a psychologist supporting individuals and families through structured assessments and therapy. She provides:

  • Autism assessments
  • Support in child psychology
  • Adult psychotherapy
  • Trauma-informed therapy
  • ADHD assessments
  • Couples therapy
  • Anxiety & depression support

Her practice is rooted in offering steady, supportive, and reliable help for people navigating difficulties in their everyday lives.

Free Autism Signs Checklist for Irish Parents — Developed by Caroline Goldsmith

This checklist has been developed by Caroline Goldsmith, a Dublin-based psychologist with over 20 years of experience in autism assessment, to help Irish parents and caregivers identify potential signs of autism in children across different ages.

This checklist is not a diagnostic tool. Only a qualified psychologist using validated assessment instruments can provide a formal autism diagnosis. However, it can help you organise your observations and decide whether to seek a professional assessment.

Section 1: Social Communication and Interaction

Consider whether your child regularly shows any of the following:

  • Limited use of eye contact during conversation or play
  • Difficulty initiating or maintaining conversation appropriate to their age
  • Does not respond to their name being called, despite normal hearing
  • Rarely shares enjoyment or achievements with others spontaneously (e.g., pointing to show you something exciting)
  • Difficulty understanding other people’s emotions or perspectives
  • Takes language very literally — does not understand sarcasm, jokes, or figures of speech
  • Finds it difficult to make or maintain friendships with peers of similar age
  • Prefers solitary play or parallel play over cooperative play

Section 2: Restricted Interests and Repetitive Behaviours

Consider whether your child regularly shows any of the following:

  • Has one or more very intense, highly focused special interests
  • Insists on specific routines and becomes very distressed if they are disrupted
  • Repeats certain words, phrases, or sounds (echolalia)
  • Engages in repetitive physical movements (rocking, hand-flapping, spinning)
  • Shows unusual attachment to specific objects
  • Plays with toys in unusual, repetitive ways (e.g., lining them up, focusing on one part of a toy)
  • Becomes highly focused on specific details rather than the overall picture

 

 

Section 3: Sensory Sensitivities

  • Over- or under-sensitive to sounds (covering ears, distressed by ordinary noise)
  • Over- or under-sensitive to touch (distressed by clothing textures, tags, or physical contact)
  • Over- or under-sensitive to light (avoidance of bright light, strong visual fascination)
  • Unusual reactions to taste or food textures — very restricted diet
  • Over- or under-sensitive to smells
  • Seeks out or avoids physical movement experiences (spinning, jumping, or discomfort with movement)

Section 4: Age-Specific Signs

Toddlers (12 months to 3 years)
  • No babbling or pointing by 12 months
  • No single words by 16 months
  • No two-word phrases by 24 months (not including imitation or repetition)
  • Loss of previously acquired language or social skills at any age
  • Limited imitation of others’ actions or expressions
School-Age Children (4 to 12 years)
  • Significant difficulty with the unwritten social rules of the classroom
  • Struggles to understand what others are thinking or feeling
  • Difficulty with group work, team sports, or unstructured social times like lunch or break
  • Unusual or advanced vocabulary in specific areas of interest, contrasted with everyday social language difficulties
  • Strong negative reactions to changes in school routine
Teenagers and Adults
  • A long history of feeling “different” without being able to explain why
  • Difficulty with workplace social dynamics, unwritten professional rules, or office politics
  • Exhaustion from social interaction (autistic burnout)
  • History of anxiety, depression, or sensory overwhelm that has not responded well to standard treatment
  • Strong identification with accounts of late-diagnosed autistic adults

What to Do If You Ticked Many Boxes

If many of the above descriptions resonate with your observations, the next step is to seek a professional assessment from a qualified psychologist. A checklist cannot provide a diagnosis — but it can give you the confidence to take that next step.

Caroline Goldsmith and the team at ATC Ireland Psychology offer private autism assessments for children and adults in Dublin and across Ireland. Assessments are conducted using gold-standard tools (ADOS-2 and ADI-R) and result in a comprehensive written report accepted by schools, HSE services, and other Irish support organisations.

Contact ATC Ireland Psychology today to discuss your concerns and arrange an initial consultation with Caroline Goldsmith.

 

Caroline Goldsmith Publications

Meet Ms. Caroline Goldsmith

Strengthening Assessment & Therapy Access in Ireland

Caroline’s work places emphasis on timely intervention and supportive guidance. Many families and adults experience delays in accessing assessments or therapy. Caroline offers structured, carefully managed assessment pathways and therapeutic support designed to provide clarity and reassurance.

Her work focuses on communication, understanding, and clear steps forward for every client she supports.

Child autsim

Supporting Clients Through Tailored Psychological Care

Caroline’s services bring together multiple areas of mental health support. She works closely with:

  • Children who need emotional or developmental guidance

  • Adults experiencing anxiety, depression, or trauma-related concerns

  • Couples experiencing relationship difficulties

  • Individuals undergoing autism or ADHD evaluations

Her goal is to help each client feel supported and informed.

child specialist

Meet Ms. Caroline Goldsmith

Caroline GoldsmithTherapeutic Style

Caroline Goldsmith’s professional background is built on a strong academic foundation. She began her journey with a Social Science Certificate from The Open University and later completed a Master’s degree in Applied Positive Psychology at the University of East London in 2016. Over the years, she has dedicated much of her career to research roles across various international universities. Her work has particularly focused on autism intervention, including significant research involvement at the University of East London and other respected institutions.

Caroline Goldsmith Specializations

Caroline Goldsmith's Top Services in Ireland

Caroline Goldsmith provides expert mental health care with a warm, professional approach. Her diverse range of services addresses both individual struggles and relationship challenges, helping clients move forward with confidence.

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Treatment - €85-€150

Caroline offers specialized trauma-focused interventions that acknowledge each person’s unique healing journey. Sessions provide a secure foundation for processing difficult experiences and moving toward emotional freedom.

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) - €85-€150

Through CBT sessions, clients learn to break free from cycles of negative thinking. Caroline Goldsmith guides individuals in developing practical skills to manage everyday stressors, overcome anxious thoughts, and build lasting emotional resilience.

Treatment for Depression - €85-€150

These sessions focus on understanding the root causes of depression while building momentum toward recovery. Caroline combines empathy with actionable techniques to help clients rediscover joy and purpose.

Bereavement Counselling - €85-€150

Loss affects everyone differently. Caroline walks alongside clients during their grieving process, validating their feelings while gently supporting them in finding peace and meaning after significant loss.

FAQs about Caroline Goldsmith

What does Caroline Goldsmith specialize in?

Caroline Goldsmith specializes in autism assessments, psychological evaluations, and tailored intervention plans. Caroline Goldsmith Her expertise lies in autism assessments and tailored interventions for both children and adults, with a strong emphasis on accurate, evidence-based evaluations.

Caroline uses gold-standard tools like ADOS-2 (Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule) and VABS-II (Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales) to deliver accurate diagnoses. Caroline Goldsmith These tools allow her to evaluate cognitive, emotional, and social aspects of everyone.

Yes, Ms. Goldsmith is experienced in diagnosing autism in adults and works to support individuals seeking clarity and appropriate intervention later in life. Caroline Goldsmith Her services cater to both age groups across her private practice in Ireland.

Caroline Goldsmith is a psychologist with over 23 years of experience, holding Bachelor’s and Master’s level qualifications. Irishresilience She holds multiple certifications including ADOS and ADI-R competency, both internationally recognized tools for autism diagnosis, and also holds an MSc in Clinical Applications of Psychology.

Unlike the often-delayed public system, Caroline Goldsmith offers timely private assessments with standardized protocols, reducing long waiting times and allowing early intervention when it’s most effective. Her assessment process typically involves multiple sessions to ensure accuracy and completeness.

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